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Imperator, dum ad repellendos Persas, qui undique instabant, omissa lorica, temere se proeliis inserit, hasta vulneratur, ac in tabernaculum refertur, ubi circumstantes alloquitur, ac post epotam frigidam moritur.

[1] Hinc nos egressos, Persae cum saepe afflicti, peditum stabiles pugnas horrerent, structis insidiis, occulte comitabantur, altrinsecus viantes catervas a celsis collibus explorando, ut id suspicans miles, ad usque perpetuum diem nec vallum erigeret nec sudibus se communiret.

[2] Dumque teguntur firmiter latera, et exercitus pro locorum situ quadratis quidem sed laxis incedit agminibus, invasa subito terga pone versus arma cogentium principi indicatur, etiam tum inermi ad speculanda anteriora progresso.

[3] Qua concitus clade, oblitus loricae, scuto inter tumultum adrepto,¹ properans ultimis ferre suppetias, revocatur alio metu, qui etiam antesignanos, unde discesserat, paria perpeti nuntiabat.

[4] Quae dum sine respectu periculi sui, redintegrare festinat, ex alia parte cataphractorum Parthicus globus centurias adoritur medias, ac sinistro cornu inclinato acriter superfusus, faetorem stridoremque elephantorum impatienter tolerantibus nostris, contis et multiplicatis missilibus decernebat.

[5] Verum principe volitante inter prima discrimina proeliorum, exilivit exsilivit nostra succinctior armatura, aversorumque Persarum et beluarum, suffragines concidebat et dorsa.

[6] Quos cum Iulianus cavendi immemor, diffluxisse trepidos elatis vociferando manibus aperte demonstrans, irasque sequentium excitans, audenter effunderet semet in pugnam, clamabant hinc inde candidati (quos disiecerat terror) ut fugientium molem tamquam ruinam male compositi culminis declinaret, et (incertum unde² ) subita equestris hasta, cute brachii eius praestricta, costis perfossis, haesit in ima iecoris fibra.

[7] Quam dum avellere dextra manu conatur, acuto utrimque ferro digitorum nervos sensit excisos, et provolutus iumento, praesentiumque veloci concursu, relatus in castra, medicinae ministeriis fovebatur.

[8] Moxque ubi lenito paulisper dolore, timere desiit, magno spiritu contra exitium certans, arma poscebat et equum, ut reviso proelio suorum fiduciam repararet, ac videretur sui securus, alienae salutis sollicitudine vehementer adstringi: eo vigore, licet in negotio dispari, quo Epaminondas ille dux inclitus letaliter apud Mantiniam saucius et revectus ex acie cura quaerebat sollicita³ scutum. Quod cum vidisset propius laetior, vi vulneris interiit, et qui animam intrepidus amittebat, iacturam clipei formidavit.

[9] Sed cum vires parum sufficerent voluntati, sanguinisque profluvio vexaretur, mansit immobilis, ideo spe deinceps vivendi absumpta, quod percunctando, Phrygiam appellari locum ubi ceciderat comperit. Hic enim obiturum se praescripta audierat sorte.

[10] Sed⁴ reducto ad tentoria principe, incredibile dictu est, quo quantoque⁵ ardore, miles ad vindictam ira et dolore ferventior involabat, hastis ad scuta concrepans, etiam mori (si tulisset fors) obstinatus. Et quamvis offundebatur oculis altitudo pulveris et aestus calescens officeret alacritati membrorum, tamen velut exauctoratus, amisso ductore, sine⁶ parsimonia ruebat in ferrum.

[11] Contra animosius Persae sagittarum volantium crebritate, conspectum sui rapiebant oppositis, quos elephanti tardius praecedentes, magnitudine corporum, cristarumque⁷ a horrore, pavorem iumentis incutiebant et viris. Concursus itaque armatorum, et cadentium gemitus, equorum flatus et tinnitus ferri procul audiebatur, quamdiu satietate vulnerum partibus fessis, nox diremit certamina iam tenebrosa.

[13] Quinquaginta tum Persarum optimates et satrapae cum plebe maxima ceciderunt, inter has turbas Merena et Nohodare potissimis ducibus interfectis. Obstupescat magniloquentia vetustatis diversis in locis proelia viginti Marcelli: Sicinium Dentatum adiciat ornatum militarium multitudine coronarum: miretur super his Sergium, qui viciens et ter vulneratus est in variis pugnis (ut fertur), cuius posteritatis ultimus Catilina claras gloriarum adoreas, sempiternis maculis obumbravit. Deformabat tamen tristitia laetiores eventus.

[14] Dum haec enim post discessum ducis ubique aguntur, exercitus cornu dextro defatigato, et Anatolio interfecto, qui tunc tune erat officiorum magister, Sallustius Salutius praefectus, actus in exitium praeceps, et opera sui apparitoris ereptus, Phosphorio amisso consiliario, qui ei aderat casu, evasit; palatini⁸ quidam militesque per multa discrimina, occupato castelli vicini praesidio, post diem denique tertium, iungi exercitui potuerunt.

[15] Quae dum ita aguntur, Iulianus in tabernaculo iacens, circumstantes allocutus est demissos et tristes: Advenit, o socii, nunc abeundi tempus e vita impendio tempestivum, quam reposcenti naturae, ut debitor bonae fidei redditurus, exulto, non (ut quidam opinantur) afflictus et maerens, philosophorum sententia generali perdoctus, quantum corpore sit beatior animus, et contemplans, quotiens condicio melior a deteriore secernitur, laetandum esse potius quam dolendum. Illud quoque advertens, quod etiam dii caelestes quibusdam piissimis mortem tamquam summum praemium persolverunt.

[16] Munus autem id mihi delatum optime scio, ne difficultatibus subcumberem arduis, neve me proiciam umquam, aut prosternam, expertus quod dolores omnes ut insultant ignavis, ita persistentibus cedunt.

[17] Nec me gestorum paenitet aut gravis flagitii recordatio stringit, vel cum in umbram⁹ et angustias¹⁰ amendarer, vel post principatum susceptum, animum¹¹ tamquam a cognatione caelitum defluentem, immaculatum (ut existimo) conservavi et civilia moderatius regens, et examinatis rationibus, bella inferens et repellens, tametsi prosperitas simul utilitasque consultorum non ubique concordent, quoniam coeptorum eventus superae sibi vindicant potestates.

[18] Reputans autem iusti esse finem imperii, oboedientium commodum et salutem, ad tranquilliora semper (ut nostis) propensior fui, licentiam omnem actibus meis exterminans,¹² rerum corruptricem et morum, gaudensque abeo,¹³ sciens quod¹⁴ ubicumque me¹⁵ velut imperiosa parens consideratis periculis obiecit res publica, steti fundatus, turbines calcare fortuitorum assuefactus.

[19] Nec fateri pudebit, interiturum me ferro, dudum didici fide fatidica praecinente. Ideoque sempiternum veneror numen, quod non clandestinis insidiis, nec longa morborum asperitate, vel damnatorum fine decedo, sed in medio cursu florentium gloriarum, hunc merui clarum ex mundo¹⁶ digressum. Aequo enim iudicio iuxta timidus est et ignavus, qui cum non oportet, mori desiderat, et qui refugiat cum sit opportunum.

[20] Hactenus loqui, vigore virium labente sufficiet. Super imperatore vero creando, caute reticeo, ne per imprudentiam dignum praeteream, aut nominatum quem habilem reor, anteposito forsitan alio, ad¹⁷ discrimen ultimum trudam. Ut alumnus autem rei publicae frugi, opto bonum post me reperiri rectorem.

[21] Post haec placide dicta, familiares opes iunctioribus velut supremo distribuens stilo, Anatolium quaesivit, officiorum magistrum, quem cum beatum fuisse Salutius respondisset praefectus, intellexit occisum, acriterque amici casum ingemuit, qui data mente¹⁸ contempserat suum.

[22] Et flentes inter haec omnes qui aderant, auctoritate integra etiam tum increpabat, humile esse, caelo sideribusque conciliatum lugeri principem dicens.

[23] Quibus ideo iam silentibus, ipse cum Maximo et Prisco philosophis super animorum sublimitate perplexius disputans, hiante latius suffossi lateris vulnere, et spiritum tumore cohibente venarum, epota gelida aqua quam petiit, medio noctis horrore, vita facilius est absolutus, anno aetatis altero et tricensimo, natus apud Constantinopolim, a pueritia usque parentis obitu destitutus Constanti, quem post fratris Constantini excessum, inter complures alios turba consumpsit imperii successorum, et Basilina matre iam inde a maioribus nobili.

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Perseus

Res Gestae (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Translations (1)

History Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 25.3 focus

[1] When we marched on from this place, the Persians, since their frequent losses made them dread regular battles with the infantry, laid ambuscades, and secretly attended us, from the high hills on both sides watching our companies as they marched, so that the soldiers, suspicious of this, all day long neither raised a palisade nor fortified themselves with stakes.

[2] And while the flanks were strongly protected and the army, as the nature of the ground made necessary, advanced in square formation, but with the battalions in open order, it was reported to the emperor, who even then unarmed had gone forward to reconnoitre, that the rear guard¹ had suddenly been attacked from behind.

[3] Excited by the misfortune, he forgot his coatof- mail,² and merely caught up a shield in the confusion; but as he was hastening to bring aid to those in the rear, he was recalled by another danger— the news that the van, which he had just left, was just as badly off.

[4] While he was hastening to restore order there without regard to his own peril, a Parthian band of mailed cavalry on another side attacked the centre companies, and quickly overflowed the left wing, which gave way, since our men could hardly endure the smell and trumpeting of the elephants, they were trying to end the battle with pikes and volleys of arrows.

[5] But while the emperor rushed hither and thither amid the foremost ranks of the combatants, our light-armed forces leaped forth upon them, and as the Persians turned in flight, they hacked at their legs and backs, and those of the elehants.

[6] Julian, careless of his own safety, shouting and raising his hands tried to make it clear to his men that the enemy had fled in disorder, and, to rouse them to a still more furious pursuit, rushed boldly into the fight. His guards,³ who had scattered in their alarm, were crying to him from all sides to get clear of the mass of fugitives, as dangerous as the fall of a badly built roof, when suddenly—no one knows whence⁴ —a cavalryman’s spear grazed the skin of his arm, pierced his ribs, and lodged in the lower lobe of his liver.

[7] While he was trying to pluck this out with his right hand, he felt that the sinews of his fingers were cut through on both sides by the sharp steel. Then he fell from his horse, all present hastened to the spot, he was taken to camp and given medical treatment.

[8] And soon, as the pain diminished somewhat, he ceased to fear, and fighting with great spirit against death, he called for his arms and his horse in order by his return to the fight to restore the confidence of his men, and troubling nothing about himself, to show that he was filled with great anxiety for the safety of the others; with the same vigour, though under different conditions, with which the famous leader Epaminondas, when mortally wounded at Mantinia and carried from the field, took particular care to ask for his shield.⁵ And when he saw it near him, he died of his terrible wound, happy; for he who gave up his life without fear dreaded the loss of his shield.

[9] But since Julian’s strength was not equal to his will, and he was weakened by great loss of blood, he lay still, having lost all hope for his life because, on inquiry, he learned that the place where he had fallen was called Phrygia.⁶ For he had heard that it was fate’s decree that he should die there.

[10] But when the emperor had been taken to his tent, the soldiers, burning with wrath and grief, with incredible vigour rushed to avenge him, clashing their spears against their shields, resolved even to die if it should be the will of fate. And although the high clouds of dust blinded the eyes, and the burning heat weakened the activity of their limbs, yet as though discharged⁷ by the loss of their leader, without sparing themselves, they rushed upon the swords of the enemy.

[11] On the other hand, the exulting Persians sent forth such a shower of arrows that they prevented their opponents from seeing the bowmen. Before them slowly marched the elephants, which with their huge size of body and horrifying crests, struck terror into horses and men. Further off, the trampling of the combatants, the groans of the falling, the panting of the horses, and the ring of arms were heard, until finally both parties were weary of inflicting wounds and the darkness of night ended the battle.

[13] On that day fifty Persian grandees and satraps fell, besides a great number of common soldiers, and among them the distinguished generals Merena⁸ and Nohodares⁹ were slain. The boastfulness of antiquity may view with amazement the twenty battles of Marcellus in various places;¹⁰ it may add Sicinius Dentatus,¹¹ honoured with a multitude of military crowns; it may besides admire Sergius,¹² who (they say) was wounded twenty-three times in different battles, and whose last descendant Catiline tarnished the glorious renown of these victories with an indelible stain. Yet the joy in our success was marred by sorrow.¹³

[14] For while the fight went on everywhere after the withdrawal of the leader, the right wing of the army was exhausted, and Anatolius, at that time chief marshal of the court, was killed. Salutius, the prefect, was in extreme danger, but was saved by the help of his adjutant, and by a fortunate chance escaped death, while Phosphorius, a councillor who chanced to be at his side, was lost. Some of the court officials¹⁴ and soldiers, amid many dangers, took refuge in a neighbouring fortress, and were able to rejoin the army only after three days.

[15] While all this was going on, Julian, lying in his tent, addressed his disconsolate and sorrowful companions as follows: Most opportunely, friends, has the time now come for me to leave this life, which I rejoice to return to Nature, at her demand, like an honourable debtor, not (as some might think) bowed down with sorrow, but having learned from the general conviction of philosophers how much happier the soul is than the body, and bearing in mind that whenever a better condition is severed from a worse, one should rather rejoice than grieve. Thinking also of this, that the gods of heaven themselves have given death to some men of the greatest virtue¹⁵ as their supreme reward.

[16] But this gift, I know well, was given to me, that I might not yield to great difficulties, nor ever bow down and humiliate myself; for experience teaches me that all sorrows overcome only weaklings, but yield to the steadfast.

[17] I do not regret what I have done, nor does the recollection of any grave misdeed torment me; either when I was consigned to the shade and obscurity, or after I attained the principate, I have preserved my soul, as taking its origin from relationship with the gods, stainless (in my opinion), conducting civil affairs with moderation, and making and repelling wars only after mature deliberation. And yet success and well-laid plans do not always go hand in hand, since higher powers claim for themselves the outcome of all enterprises.

[18] Considering, then, that the aim of a just rule is the welfare and security of its subjects, I was always, as you know, more inclined to peaceful measures, excluding from my conduct all license, the corrupter of deeds and of character. On the other hand, I depart rejoicing that, so often as the state, like an imperious parent, has exposed me deliberately to dangers, I have stood four-square, accustomed as I am to tread under foot the storms of fate.

[19] And I shall not be ashamed to admit, that I learned long ago through the words of a trustworthy prophecy, that I should perish by the sword. And therefore I thank the eternal power that I meet my end, not from secret plots, nor from the pain of a tedious illness, nor by the fate of a criminal, but that in the mid-career of glorious renown I have been found worthy of so noble a departure from this world. For he is justly regarded as equally weak and cowardly who desires to die when he ought not, or he who seeks to avoid death when his time has come.

[20] So much it will be enough to say, since my vital strength is failing. But as to the choice of an emperor, I am prudently silent, lest I pass over some worthy person through ignorance, or if I name someone whom I consider suitable, and perhaps another is preferred, I may expose him to extreme danger. But as an honourable foster-child of our country, I wish that a good ruler may be found to succeed me.

[21] After having spoken these words in a calm tone, wishing to distribute his private property to his closer friends, as if with the last stroke of his pen, he called for Anatolius, his chief court-marshal. And when the prefect Salutius replied He has been happy, he understood that he had been slain, and he who recently with such courage had been indifferent to his own fate, grieved deeply over that of a friend.

[22] Meanwhile, all who were present wept, where- upon even then maintaining his authority, he chided them, saying that it was unworthy to mourn for a prince who was called to union with heaven and the stars.

[23] As this made them all silent, he himself engaged with the philosophers Maximus¹⁶ and Priscus in an intricate discussion about the nobility of the soul.¹⁷ Suddenly the wound in his pierced side opened wide, the pressure of the blood checked his breath, and after a draught of cold water for which he had asked, in the gloom of midnight he passed quietly away in the thirty-second year of his age. Born in Constantinople, he was left alone in childhood by the death both of his father Constantius (who, after the decease of his brother Constantinus, met his end with many others in the strife for the succession to the throne)¹⁸ and of his mother Basilina, who came from an old and noble family.¹⁹

Notes on the current edition

Res Gestae

1. arrepto, E, Lind.; abrepto, V.

2. unde, added by Haupt, Gardt.; V omits.

3. cura quaerebat sollicta, Her.; cum quaerebat, sollicitae, V.

4. sed, added by Clark; V omits.

5. quo quantoque, Gardt.; quo omitted by V.

6. sine, V; sine sui, Gardt.

7. cristarumque, V; stridorumque, Haupt; crustarumque, Her.; cf. xix. 2, 3.

8. palatini, Momm. (for et fuga); lac. ind. by Her.; pagani, Pet.; fugam quidam, V.

9. umbram, Eyssen.; umbra, V.

10. argustias, N 2 Bent.; angulis, EBG; angustiis, Gudeman; angulias, V.

11. animum, added by Momm., punctuating stringit. vel; quem by Val.; V omits.

12. propensior exter-, added in G; nostis minans, V.

13. abeo, Kellerbauer; adeo, V.

14. sciens quod, V; gestiensque, Haupt.

15. me, vulgo; V omits.

16. ex mundo, Clark; e medio, BG; e mundo, EA; et mundo, V.

17. ad, added by Pet.; in by N 2G; V omits.

18. elata mente, Corn.; letum ante, Brakman; etiam laete, Pighius; eletantem, V.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 25.3

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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Imperator, dum ad repellendos Persas, qui undique instabant, omissa lorica, temere se proeliis inserit, hasta vulneratur, ac in tabernaculum refertur, ubi circumstantes alloquitur, ac post epotam frigidam moritur.

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

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